As the Super J IGA Back to School Promotion enters its fifth week, over one hundred families have won book vouchers, uniform vouhcers, lunch kits, back packs and grocery hampers and other weekly prizes advertised as part of this year’s promotion.
“The participation has been overwhelming, and customers are excited that this year so many people are getting opportunities to win the things they need the most at this time of year” noted Marketing Manager Sancha Raggie James.
“This year we decided to keep it simple and just focus on ways to alleviate the pressures on parents that are associated with this time of year” she added.
With two more weeks to the end of the promotion, customers are being reminded that every $100.00 or more spent at any Super J IGA or Ti J’s qualify them to the win.
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As the challenges confronting young people continue to grow, the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) is getting involved in a hands-on and head-on approach to the issues. The Party’s Candidate for Babonneau, Ms. Alvina Reynolds, facilitated two sessions with the Youth of Fond Assau and surrounding communities, as part of their 2010 Summer Camp. Ms. Reynolds, who is a trained educator, social worker and peer counsellor, used various interactive methodologies to engage the young people in sessions on Anger Management and HIV/AIDS Education.
Some fifty (50) children from ages 7 to 15 fifteen participated in the 2010 Summer Camp, which was held at the Fond Assau Resource Centre from Tuesday August 3rd through to Friday August 17th 2010. Participants were very responsive to the learning style and information presented by Ms. Reynolds, which drew out practical prevention measures and solutions from the young people themselves.
The workshop was sponsored by Social Skills Development Fund (SSDF) and hosted by the Platinum Football Team of Fond Assau. The Babonneau Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) candidate has vowed to continue reaching out to young people in need of guidance; and has issued a call to Government to invest more in training young people in practical relationship and life skills.
Meanwhile, the Saint Lucia Labour Party invites all young people to visit its new website at www.stlucialabourparty.org and see where the Party stands on various issues including Youth, as well as the party’s proposed plans and programmes.
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Police Commissioner Mr. Vernon Francois held a follow-up meeting with media representatives. This first meeting with Commissioner Francois was held on Friday, August 27, 2010 at the Commissioner’s Conference Room at Chesterfield (on the hill past Police Headquarters). This was not a news conference but instead it was an open and frank discussion with the Commissioner where both side present workable ideas of improving police/media relations.
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By Andrew Sealy
St. Lucia is one of the most picturesque islands of the Caribbean, or should I say the world? And because of this millions of tourists have passed through these shores sampling the physical and the social beauty which are uniquely St. Lucian. Most of us have been very happy to welcome these guests and share with them what God Almighty has so generously blessed us with. The end result is that we have open ourselves to tourism of all kinds, and a lot of the aspects which are not in our best interests have taken root here. Tourism might be the number one money earner for St. Lucia, but it has also contributed significantly to the moral and social decay which currently affects life on this once peaceful paradise. In fact, there was a time when the Tourist Board marketed St. Lucia as a destination which was still unspoiled. Today, that slogan would be a lie.
Part of the beauty of St. Lucia is a myriad of bays or inlets, many of which have proven to be major attractions for tourists and foreign investors. This should not have been a problem if our infrastructural development had taken place in an environment of balance for the needs of nature and residents of the island. Today, every beach worth spending time on has suffered the ravages of hotel and related development to the extent that our seabed is suffering immeasurably, and residents of the island are being pushed further and further away from the sea. We have sacrificed the convenience of indigenous fishing and sea bathing for the accommodation of tourists, and even under these circumstances, the bulk of the profits from these arrangements is repatriated to foreign shores. We have failed to balance the need for economic development with environmental and social concerns, and we are paying a terrible price today. Crime and other social deviations are just part of the inheritance of our lopsided develop-ment, and we are still closing our eyes to the truth of what is happening to us and our patrimony.
The north of the island boasts of one bay after the other and these bays are sadly occupied by concrete structures, many of which are incongruous with the environmental flow of the island. Today, our most popular beaches are all crowded by hotels and their guests, and in the very near future, our children will have nowhere to recreate because the beaches would have been all occupied and every available spot of flat land would have been taken up by some concrete structure or the other. Government needs to look seriously into the implementation of a land use policy for St. Lucia which will allow locals to have at least equal access to our remaining land mass, not only for housing but also for recreating purposes. Even some of the tourists have begun to realize that St. Lucians are being pushed away from the beaches, but we seat back and allow the process to go full circle without saying anything or taking appropriate action. We need to begin to agitate for our rights not to be trampled upon, because if we don’t, the next generation will curse the legacy we leave behind.
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By Jacques Compton
In a poem dedicated to Saint Lucia’s first internationally acclaimed novelist, Mr. Garth St. Omer, the Hon. Derek Walcott writes “There are no rites/for those who have returned.”. Later in that same poem he continues and says that “he hoped it would be something to declare/to-day. I am your poet, yours/all this you know/but never guessed you’d come/to know there are home comings without home.”
That must about sum up the feelings of the Nobel Laureate of the utter neglect of him and his works by the very country where he was born and educated. How many Secondary Schools in Saint Lucia see to it that their students read and study the poetic, dramatic and prose works of the man who has brought such fame to Saint Lucia? Why did he have to remind them here in one of his poems “Is here I born?”
On the evening of Tuesday, 9th. January 1990, two years before he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, on the initiative of the then Prime Minister, the late Sir John Compton, at an impressive ceremony at the Cultural Centre, and in the name of the Government and People of Saint Lucia, the Hon. Derek Walcott was honoured for his works. As the man being honoured that evening said in his remarks, he was pleased that Saint Lucia was honouring Poetry. Fine sentiments, indeed, but how far have we gone with that? I was the Master of Ceremonies that evening. Among the persons who had been invited to pay tribute on that occasion was the late George Odlum who also gave us a stirring dramatic interpretation of the character, Afa, from the Hon. Walcott’s classic play, ‘The Sea At Dauphin.’
The Hon. Derek Walcott has returned home, but what has been his reception and his reaction to that reception. Listen to the words of one of his poems: “Once I thought that love of country was enough/Now even if I tried, there is no room at the trough.”
Sad, isn’t it?
And what does he see in his beloved homeland? We look again at one of his poems where he observes “I watch the best minds root like dogs for scraps of favour.”
Twice the Hon. Derek Walcott had offered his services, free, to tutor young Saint Lucians in the art of Poetry and Drama. I was so excited by the idea that I arranged a meeting between him and the then Minister of Culture, Mr. Damian Greaves (Minister of Bacchanal), but the offer was never taken up.
It is a most wonderful idea, indeed, to invite Saint Lucians from overseas to return, but to what purpose when the bureaucrats in the Civil Service will see to it, as have been done before, that they are not wanted here, especially if they have any bright ideas to establish any business or projects here. I know those who have tried have had to return to the metropolitan countries to which they had originally migrated.
What are we offering those who, on this occasion, we have induced to return home? To sit at trays along the pavements like the rest of the Saint Lucians who are trying to make a living while the entire City of Castries is allowed to be owned by foreigners who become millionaires almost overnight after having been given all minds of concessions?
All right. Now listen to one of our younger poets, Kendel Hippolyte about our City, Castries:
“Each month new cheap boutiques open, have sales, close down, reopen
in houses that you once knew clattering with children ruled by raucous mothers…”
Can we answer the question that he asks a few lines later, to wit: “What happens to a heartland when the original dwellers leave?”
One man with whom I went to school, the R.C. Boys, perhaps disillusioned by what he has seen and heard, confessed to me last week that he will be selling his property here to return to the U.K. Our people who have migrated to the metropolitan countries have been accustomed to a more sophisticated way of life.
Twice I was recruited from London to take up appointments in Saint Lucia. Numerous persons advised me against going home after my first unceremonious treatment which had forced me to return to London. Amongst those advising against it were business people, people involved in the Arts, politicians from all three parties, Labour, Conservatives and my own party, the Liberal Democrats. They thought that I was a glutton for punishment, my deciding to return. They were right, for I am still suffering for my having returned.
Oh, yes! Yes! It would be a wonderful and marvelous thing if those who came, or were invited to come, were to be offered the opportunity to set up businesses or projects here which would assist in the alleviating of the chronic unemployment amongst the youth and thus reduce the crime rate. Oh, yes! But then I am reminded of the French Creole proverb: “Devant poule ravette pas ni raison.”
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Monroe College is committed to helping the youth if St. Lucia achieve their academic dreams, according to Academic Dean, Dr. Robert Lewis, after the college held a very successful Parents Day Forum on July 22, 2010.
“We know that finance is a looming and discouraging factor for many students and their families, and we would like help ‘ease the squeeze’”, he added as Monroe College announced two new efforts for highly motivated students who are serious about achieving their educational goals.
The first is a partial scholarship to one student from each secondary school here, based on the results of CXC and the recommendation of principals. “We thought this would be one way of us helping St. Lucians students get closer to their dream of gaining a degree”, notes Dr. Lewis. This partial scholarship will reduce the total cost to students by 25%.
Already, Monroe College offers several scholarships to the Government of St. Lucia through the Training Division of the Ministry of the Public Service - or students who wish to complete degrees at Monroe College in Business Management, Criminal Justice, Hospitality Management, Information Technology (IT) and Public Health.
Monroe College was founded in 1993 and has campuses in New Rochelle and the Bronx in New York. The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The St. Lucia campus was opened in 2007 with a single goal: to educate men and women for a successful future in the world. Monroe College is recognized as a leader in providing an American-styled, focused, career-oriented, quality education with integration of classroom learning with real-world experience.
The other Monroe College programme is called “Jump Start”, and will allow secondary school students to complete college classes while still in Form 4 and 5.
We know there are many students who can handle the work as growing number students are now coming to Monroe College straight from secondary school with exceptional performances at the CXC”.
Students who successfully complete introductory college level courses at Monroe College will receive academic credit. Tuition and books are FREE to students who quality. In addition, students will be able to access tutorial guidance, as well as the vast online resources that are available to all Monroe Students. They will also receive academic and career advice from the faculty.
What this means, Dr. Lewis explained “is that determined students may earn up to 12 credits or one semester off the regular eight semesters required to complete a degree”.
“Jump Start” will be a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Education and Culture, through school principals and counselors. Principals and counselors who know of students who can take advantage of any of these programme can request information by sending an email to jgeorge@monroecollege.edu
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By Malcolm Nestor - Insurance Claims Specialist
Part I
As a society develops so does the nature and range of crimes which need to be identified and prevented to safe guard the security and well being of its citizens. One of the more insidious and dangerous of these is the extortion and or insurance fraud, where either by the threat of arrest and imprisonment victims or their insurers are extorted to make large cash payments to the purportedly injured parties.
The key players in this type of criminal activity are unscrupulous professionals such as:
(a) doctors who profit from providing expensive services and or payoffs;
(b) attorneys who profit from cash settlements, which often are a multiple of the health-care expense; and
(c) alleged victims who are really criminals who see this is an opportunity to enrich themselves with easy money particularly in times of economic crisis as we are now experiencing.
Some lawyers recruit accident victims, but other fraudsters even fabricate their own accidents where and when opportunity presents itself.
The goal of the fraudster is to maximize medical expenses or claim exorbitant sums in compen-sation from victims. This enables participants to profit from unnecessary services and may enable attorneys who represent the faking clients to get higher settlements and therefore higher fees for cases taken on a contingency basis and enable professional criminals to steal many millions of dollars.
Here are some scenarios that should arouse suspicion that a personal injury fraud is involved:
* People who have been in minor accidents are advised by an attorney, or a practitioner that they may have been injury more seriously than they think or make this claim themselves and seek dishonest professionals to support their claims.
* Faking victims are advised that they can make money by doing what is recommended and that failure to participate could adversely affect their legal case.
* The diagnostic evaluation process is set up by a lawyer who refers to multiple practitioners. Typically including of orthopedics, chiropractic, general medicine, neurology, and physical therapy.
* The claimant use nonessential transportation like ambulances or specialized air transportation and bill the defendant or attempt to recover the cost from the defendant.
* Multiple professional appointments take place at the same facility or on the same day. There is no real consultation in which one doctor advises another. In many cases the physical examinations are cursory. These characteristics suggest that everyone gets these services regardless of whether they are clinically needed.
* Multiple diagnostic tests are recommended with little or no explanation. Often they are conducted in the treating physician’s office with little or no advance notice and no discussion of the results afterward. The tests may be administered by visiting physicians or technicians and with little or no follow up by patient of the recommended courses of treatment.
* The tests commonly used by personal injury mills include nerve-conduction tests or surface electromyography to look for “nerve damage; spinal ultrasound to look for soft-tissue injury; and inclinometry to look for restriction of joint motion.
* Participants are told that they have suffered significant injury even though they have few or no symptoms. One tactic is to say that the accident has caused a disc to bulge even though the disc is not causing the patient’s symptoms. Any stress placed on the spine-including changing one’s position from lying to standing - creates a load that results in many disc bulging slightly, which is a normal occurrence. Bulges are not clinically significant unless they are associated protrusion or rupture that produces symptoms.
* The treatment stays the same - with multiple modalities - whether or not you are feeling better.
* Insurance claims are not handled in a standard manner. Practitioners are willing to forego the deductible or copayment, and payment reports are coded and go to the attorney rather than the patient.
Why You Should Care
The millions of dollars that are stolen each year by personal injury fraud result in higher insurance premiums and higher taxes and the degradation of the society in general. But the loss does not end there. Many business lives and careers are negatively affected by these fraudulent claims which leading to unemployment and many social ills. False reports of medical diagnoses or loss of functionality can cause trouble for patients who later apply for a job, apply for insurance, or actually become disabled and apply for disability.
In addition, knowing participants can be prosecuted for fraud. For this reason, you should be alert to the signs described in this article and should examine bills and insurance payment reports to see what services have supposedly been provided in order to protect yourself, business and family from this criminal activity.
Also any business operating in these modern times where the economic situation causes a person to act out of desperation should invest in close circuit television systems, to monitor their premises so in the event of claims recourse, video recording can assist in exposing fraud. Also if you encounter signs of a personal injury fraud, ask the fraud division of your insurance company to assist in exposing the fraud.
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Additional Professors and New Tourism Institute to Re-energize St. Lucia’s Education
This fall the Monroe College St. Lucia Campus will be infusing more educational resources to integrate its programmes with the community, making them more relevant and accessible than even.
Also, students can expect to see a number of professors from Monroe’s New York Campuses enhancing the St. Lucia classroom experience. As a result, the college will literally be bursting with opportunity that is custom-designed for St. Lucia.
Along with Monroe College’s highly-regarded MBA programme and established bachelor’s degree programme in business management, criminal justice, hospitality management and information technology, the college will be emphasizing its Bachelor’s degree programme in public health and a new Tourism and Hospitality Training Institute as part of its ongoing commitment to providing St. Lucians with first-class educational opportunities.
“It’s no secret that quality-of-life improves dramatically with increased access to education”, said the popular Dean of the St. Lucia Campus, Ramesh Sinanan.
“We’ve been an enthusiastic partner with the St. Lucia community and we plan to cultivate those relationships with improved educational and career development opportunities, it’s really exciting”!
As part of the college’s commitment, Senior Vice President Dr. Alex Eprhem, a thirty-year veteran of Monroe College administration, will be relocating to St. Lucia to provide additional support for Dean Sinanan.
“The Monroe culture of success that Middle States identified in its recent enthusiastic review will continue to be on display on the St. Lucia Campus,” said Dr. Ephrem. “This will be illustrated by the same personalized academic and career development support that has distinguished the Monroe for the past 77 years”.
Along with Dr. Ephrem, a number of Monroe’s professors will be travelling from New York to St. Lucia to add enrichment to the classroom, insuring that the academic quality remains at a high level.
On June 11, more than 2,800 Monroe students received degrees in three commencement ceremonies held at Madison Square Garden in New York. The St. Lucia graduation is set for October, 2010.
Enrollment for all of Monroe’s academic Programmes on the St. Lucia campus is open now. The next session will begin on September 8th, 2010.
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By Andrew Sealy
Tourism Alternatives
Another tourist season is already fast approaching and the departure of the Carnival Cruise Lines from the St. Lucian market has left a major void which desperately needs to be filled. Local taxi drivers have grown used to the busy cruise season with thousands of visitors flocking here each week, and any drop in arrivals will negatively impact, not only the drivers, but several other sectors of the local economy as well.
To take up the resultant slack, government and the Tourist Board, as well as the Hotel and Tourism Association and the business sector, including small entrepreneurs like the craft sellers will have to become more creative and astute in order to generate more money from the visitors who come here. While it will be very beneficial to attract a few more cruise lines, we should not be satisfied with the current levels of return that we have been able to garner from cruise passengers. In fact, there is a segment of the tourist industry which argues that cruise tourism does not contribute enough revenue for the capital outlay which government and the private sector are called upon to make. These people believe that cruise passengers should be taxed much heavier before they are allowed to enter our ports.
These people have raised some credible reasonings about their stated position on cruise passengers, but they have not been able to get enough support for their arguments. What we really need is a new set of approaches to cruise and other areas of tourism in order to maximize returns from the sector. Currently we have a situation where vendors to tourists have very little variety in what they sell, and this in itself limits the mount of money which these passengers will agree to spend here. Money is tight all over the world, and the vast majority of cruise passengers are not from the wealthy class, so that their disposable income is generally in the lower brackets.
To effectively soften the impact of the loss of passengers, tourism needs to be diversified big time. We need to create more linkages with agriculture, commerce, trade and other areas of the services sector. We need to create new businesses which will encourage, even force in a legitimate way, our visitors to spend more of their money with us. For our cruise sector we need to create attractions which are not found elsewhere so that people will want to get a first time experience. If such an experience is labour intensive it will be so much better for all of us because the answer to our tourism woes lies in getting more of our people to enjoy a part of the tourism pie.
Poor CXC Results
Well the cat is out of the bag. Yes the CXC results are out for 2010, and although there is a marginal increase in the overall pass rates generally, the final score is still not encouraging. Something has to be wrong either with our students, our teachers, our education system or a combination of the above. Our overall pass rate was 73.86% compared to 73.78% last year.
The most disappointing result was the Mathematics score. Some 2275 students sat the exam and over 1300 failed. 944 passed with only 180 getting a grade one pass. English Language fared better, but far from satisfactorily. In fact, English had the most entrants, 2340 students, and 1603 of them received passes, with 574 of these receiving grade ones. Some 700 failed.
Amazingly only 275 students across the island sat Geography, yet 152 of these failed, and only 20 had grade one passes. We did not fare very well in our foreign languages either. French should be a major subject here, but only 421 sat it and 152 failed. Spanish attracted 496 students and 180 failed. Social Studies attracted the third highest number of students 1556, and 1380 passed, followed by Principles of Business with 1177 entrants and 1024 of them passed.
We have been lamenting our poor results for several years now, but we seem to be at sea to find a solution to the problem. It would appear that our teaching methods need to be reexamined to ensure that they are indeed motivating and keeping our students interested. If students do not enjoy the subjects being taught, then they will find it harder to pass any exam set for them. With Martinique being so close to us and the major influx of French speakers we have had in recent years, we should be doing a lot better in the French Language, but it seems that a lot of students are shying away from French. I believe that we are too theoretical in the teaching of languages, and so students find them difficult and uninteresting. If we begin by focusing on functional conversations in Forms one and two, then by Form three most students will be able to master and pursue the foreign languages.
Another area of concern is our current crop of teachers. Many of today’s teachers appear to be transient and not committed to the profession, so they cannot put their all into their jobs, and students suffer as a result. The Ministry of Education needs to consider an overall overhaul of our education system before we will see a major improvement in the performance of our students.
Should cigarette smoking be banned in public?
Sometimes people do not know what is good or bad for them, and even in cases of those who know what to do or avoid, it is often helpful to remind them forcefully of the possible dangers they face in pursuing such actions or behaviours.
I sat in a restaurant one evening and in walked a medical doctor. He sat at a table, and before he could have been served, he pulled out his box of cigarettes and started smoking. I got annoyed and pointed out to him the danger he was placing me in with his smoke, but because the restaurant did not have a policy on smoking, he chuckled and ignored my plea to quit. It is ironic that a doctor should be a smoker, but then, bad habits do not choose social status or level of income. Rich and poor, employed and unemployed, ignorant and knowledgeable, members of all of these groups develop bad habits which endanger their lives and those of innocent people as well.
By now, people all over the world know that smoking causes serious health conditions, but it is important to examine some of the specific statistics in order to get a clear picture of why it is truly important to quit or avoid smoking cigarettes of all kinds. First of all, smoke of any kind is detrimental to life. Even smoke from the burning of bush in your back yard can cause serious health problems if it is inhaled over time.
Unfortunately, we do not have the facilities or resources to systematically collect smoking data in St. Lucia, but we can use data from other countries to help us evaluate what our situation is or can be. US statistics indicate the heart disease is the leading cause of death among smokers, and, on a global level, researchers report that there were 1,690,000 premature deaths from cardiovascular disease among smokers in the year 2000. In contrast, there were approximately 850,000 lung cancer deaths during the same year, and 118,000 emphysema deaths worldwide from smoking in 2001,
Medical researchers point out that tobacco use plays a role in a multitude of diseases that ultimately lead to disability and/or death and is particularly hard on the heart. Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds; 200 of which are known to be poisonous, and upwards of 60 have been identified as carcinogens or cancer related. Viewed in that light, it is important to realize that the effects of smoking are widespread and destructive. Of equal concern to all is the fact the second hand smoke is just as or even more destructive. When people smoke near you, your health and life are at risk because the smoke they exhale carries all the 4000chemicals from the cigarette, plus any impurities or germs found in the smokers respiratory track. Because of these vital statistics, it will be very beneficial for smoking to be banned in public places. People who want to smoke should find secluded and private areas for them to practice their unhealthy habit.
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Last Friday, 20th August 2010, 12 students, some accompanied by parents, met at the Cuban Embassy in Rodney Heights to receive briefings and documentation for their travel to Cuba to pursue studies in Medicine.
Mr. Emilio Flores, Counselor at the Embassy, welcomed the participants and presented documentation to the students.
Officials from the Public Service - Mrs. Beverly Francis, Ms. Jacinta Belrose and Ms. Anselma Calderon - addressed the students. Ms. Calderon told them they must strive for success and make their families and country proud. She also emphasized that the Government and people of Cuba were making significant sacrifices to afford them this opportunity.
Dr. Gregor Williams, Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee of the Saint Lucia - Cuba Humanistic Solidarity Association (which was awarded one scholarship) and Mr. Oliver Scott of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (which was awarded two scholarships) also delivered motivational presentations.
The President of the Association, Bro. Rawle Harvey, outlined to the students what living in Cuba would be like and wished them well.
One student, Digon M.G. Severin, and one parent, Anne Marie Leonce, expressed appreciations to the Government and people of Cuba.
The selected students heading for Cuba are Melissa Francois (chosen by the Saint Lucia - Cuba Humanistic Solidarity Association), as well as Naomi Deterville and Kizee Leonce (chosen by the St. Lucia Labour Party.) Those nominated by the Government are: Sylvia E. Pinder, Twyla Q. Louis-Fernand, Shane A. Marius, Jamie Medard, Corrine K. Jn. Baptiste, Digon M.G. Severin, Rohan Edgar, Len Compton and Filomena Day.
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Exactly, three (3) months ago, the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) alerted Saint Lucians to the fact that the receiver for a collapsed German Bank (Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander Ltd), was trying to sell several hundred acres of prime local lands that it held as security for a US$23,000,000.00 (US$23 million) loan, in respect of the failed Ritz Carlton Hotel project in Saint Lucia.
Political Leader - Dr. Kenny D. Anthony explained at the time that Saint Lucia stood to lose all the land without a cent in compensation. This was because the UWP Government had abandoned the SLP Government’s previous plans to sell the land to the developers for cash, and decided instead to contribute the land in exchange for preference shares in the hotel. The UWP Government through its Tourism Minister, its Investment Minister and its NDC Chairman boasted at the time that it had found a better and more secure financing formula for the project.
Since the SLP’s disclosure three (3) months ago, Ministers Allen Chastanet and Rufus Bousquet have come out publicly claiming that the land is not at risk. These denials notwithstanding, the Saint Lucia Labour Party understands that the Bank’s receivers have been left with no choice but to proceed with their claim against the security of approximately 500 acres of Saint Lucian land.
The Saint Lucia Labour Party shares the deep concern of Saint Lucians about this development, and calls upon Prime Minister King and Ministers Chastanet and Bousquet, to explain what has happened to the US$23,000,000.00 borrowed by the Ritz Carlton Developers, and how it plans to save the country’s 500 acres of land (which is valued at millions of dollars), from being seized without compensation.
This is an issue of urgent national importance and Prime Minister King and his Ministers cannot explain it away with silence or empty assurances.
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Piton Beer is the main sponsor of the 2010 National Woulélaba Competition which runs throughout October, Creole Heritage Month.
Every year, during the month of October, the Folk Research Centre creates the atmosphere for St Lucians to be part of an important process of self-discovery and building of cultural awareness as an important strategy for instilling self confidence and national pride among St. Lucians at home and throughout the diaspora. In knowing, understanding and appreciating our heritage, we strengthen our social foundation as a proud and unique community, contributing to the cultural diversity of the global village. It is in this context that the Folk Research Centre in collaboration with Piton Beer in organizing a series of events nationwide giving special attention to this popular indigenous sports tradition in St. Lucia called Woulélaba or Walaba.
Germaine Serieux is the Piton Brand Manager. According to Serieux, “We have to be vibrant and responsible in what we call our own, and like anything else show pride especially with those cultural events.”
Woulélaba is a local or Creole version of cricket that is very popular in rural communities. The actual format of the game is broadly similar to international cricket but with some significant differences in the rules that make it less formal and increases the excitement for local spectators.
The 2010 National Woulélaba Competition will be launched with a Woulélabarama in Monchy on August 29th. The competition will, subsequently, begin in earnest on September 5th. It is expected to bring the excitement of culture, tradition, and sports to communities around St. Lucia with the finals of the competition coinciding with Creole Heritage Month in October, in this our 31st anniversary of Independence.
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A two-member technical team from Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Extension Service on Monday of this week met with St. Lucia’s Minister for Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and Forestry, Ezechiel Joseph along with other senior ministry officials.
The Members of the Israel Technical Team were Yoram Eisenstadt - Soil and Water Extension Specialist and Ityel Eviatar - Vegetables Extension Specialist.
In addressing the Israel Technical Team, Minister Ezechiel Joseph pointed out the following programme of collaboration between the Israel Government and the St. Lucia Government:
1) Vegetable Production
2) Soil and water Improvement
3) Greenhouse Production
4) Water Harvesting
5) Marketing and
6) Agricultural Research
The Minister also called for Israel assistance for agricultural inputs at an affordable cost to Saint Lucia farmers, improved linkages between agriculture and tourism, refurbishment of the two (2) Agro-processing facilities at Anse Ger in Micoud and Fond Assau in Babonneau and general improvement in agriculture production.
Also in attendance at Monday morning’s meeting were Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Land Fisheries and Forestry - Mr. Hubert Emmanuel; Director of Agricultural Services - Mr. Eden Compton and Foreign Service Office Mr. Sheldon Michel.
The Israel Technical Team is expected to present a detailed report to the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and Forestry Following their initial tour of duty in St. Lucia.
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In Sync with the continuing global embrace of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the streamlining of the service delivery components of all Government agencies, the Customs and Excise Department is pleased to announce the attainment of yet another important milestone - ASYCUDA WORLD.
Under the Theme “Saint Lucia Customs... to the WORLD”, the Customs and Excise Department leading the charge of many countries in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Americas, Europe and the rest of the world in the adoption of this new, vibrant and more user friendly upgrade of ASCUYDA ++.
The ASYCUDA World programme is directed at refining the Customs clearance processes. Its main objectives are to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs operations; speed up clearance; simplify procedures and minimize administrative costs.
This move to ASYCUDA World represents an increase in revenue collection, greater management and control of Government finances and a better, a more sustainable condition for trade, as well as information and knowledge sharing.
With effect from August 30, 2010, the Customs and Excise Department will take Saint Lucia Customs to the World - ASYCUDA WORLD!
In light of this transition, the Customs and Excise Department advises all importers, exporters, shippers and their agents or Customs Brokers that a re-registration process is necessary to gain access to this new system.
The department is confident that this move, which allows traders to handle all transactions via the internet, will form a platform from which the Customs and Excise Department can maintain an adequate balance between trade facilitation, border control and the protection of its society.
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Saint Lucia’s Queen of Culture Dame Marie Selipha “Sesenne” Descartes will receive the honour of an Official Funeral Service and Burial on Saturday, August 28th, 2010. The Government has agreed to grant Sesenne the honour of an Official funeral following recommendations by a Government Appointed Committee which was put in place to formulate funeral arrangements.
Dame Marie Selipha “Sesenne” Descartes will receive a send-off be-fitting of her status as Saint Lucia’s Queen of Culture during an elaborate ceremony to be held at the St. Lucy’s Catholic Church in the village of Micoud. The event will comprise of a Tribute Forum from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, followed by the formal funeral service immediately after-wards. The Tribute Forum will feature cultural performances/presentations by various cultural groups and individuals and addresses by Officials including Minister of Culture, Hon. Gaspard Charlemagne and Prime Minister Stephenson King.
Prior to the com-mencement of the Tribute Forum and Funeral Service, members of the public will be able to view the body of Sesenne at the Church from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Following the conclusion of the funeral service, the funeral procession will proceed via vehicular procession to the Patience, Mon Repos junction. At that point the Casket bearing the body of Dame Marie Selipha Descartes will be carried by hand to the burial site near her home, which is approximately 150 yards away.
During his tribute at the funeral service, Prime Minister Stephenson King will announce decisions made by Govern-ment to immortalize the name and work of Saint Lucia’s Queen of Culture.
Government encourages all Saint Lucians to share in this historic moment by viewing the body, attending the Tribute Forum and/or Funeral Service of Dame Marie Selipha “Sesenne” Descartes on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at the St Lucy’s Catholic Church in the village on Micoud. Efforts are currently underway to relay the funeral and burial ceremonies live via radio and through the internet by streaming.
Let Saturday, August 28th, 2010 be marked as a special day nationally to cele-brate the work and life of our Queen of Culture, Dame Marie Selipha “Sesenne” Descartes.
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The biggest summer long event in Saint Lucia ends this Sunday, when one DJ will be crowned the champions of champions. Just who will be the last man standing? This question will be answered when the 2010 Heineken Green Synergy DJ Competition finals takes place this Sunday August 29, at the nature Heritage Park, Fond D’or, Dennery. Last Sunday August 22, a large crowd showed up at Pigeon Island to witness sixteen DJ’s do battle for a spot in the finals. A panel of judges scored each round based on the DJ’s music selection, cross over mixing, technique, synergy between MC and DJ and crowd response. Each DJ was allowed to play a complete set for ten minutes before going up against an opponent in the tune for tune sound clash.
In the end, eight DJ’s have clearly survived their rounds according to the judges. These DJ’s are Roots La, Thurum, DJ Quanie, DJ Alsnow, DJ Chubby, Fireman, Mega B and Mitek. However, three spots have been reserved, one for a people’s choice finalist and the judges wildcard, as well as last year’s winner DJ Spy Kid, which will bring the total number of finalists to eleven.
The winner of Sunday’s competition will receive EC$5,000, a trophy, Heineken product for a year and a chance to go up against the Heineken Green Synergy champion of St. Vincent.
This Sunday’s event will feature a number of guest performers and DJ’s as well as loads of giveaways and specials from Heineken. Gates at the venue will be open from 2 PM Sunday.
This is the seventh edition of the Heineken Green Synergy DJ Competition under the brands Heineken Music tag.
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Parents and well-wishers who attended the Thursday August 12th closing ceremony of the Taiwan – St. Lucia Junior Summer Camp in the south were treated with a memorable display of song, dance and magic, as the juniors expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of the camp. A video recording with highlights of the week activities was shown, and students entertained the large gathering with captivating renditions in English, Creole and Chinese.
The juniors paid special tribute to Honourable Lenard Montoute, Minister for Social Transformation, Youth & Sports, His Excellency Ambassador Tom Chou of the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Mr. Vishall Bhalla, General Manager Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa for their contribution to the Camp. The students were excited and thrilled at the opportunity to meet these distinguished gentlemen in person at the welcome ceremony.
Ninety-two juniors from the south of St. Lucia participated in a one week Junior Tennis and Skills development program from August 8th to 12th. The training sessions were arranged by the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and conducted by young Taiwanese Coaches from the FU JEN Catholic University with assistance from local volunteers. Transportation for the students who travelled from as far as Soufriere in the west to Mon Repos in the east was provided by the Ministry for Social Transformation, Youth and Sports. The management of the luxurious Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa provided the facilities and refreshments. Arrangements for the camp were coordinated by OMS Tennis Academy.
All students were presented with certificates of participation and the outstanding performers received medals in recognition of their special achievements. The Taiwanese coaches and staff were given tokens of appreciation with Ms Susana (Ching-Ying) Huang, 3rd Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Taiwan (China) receiving special praise for her herculean efforts in making the camp a memorable success.
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Tapion Hospital is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a Three-Year Accreditation by Accreditation Canada International. This Canadian accreditation body is one of the largest and is well respected in the World.
Tapion Hospital is the only hospital in the Eastern Caribbean Region to have achieved full accreditation for the following services:
* Acute Patient Care and Safety
* Medicine Services
* Control & prevention of infections in hospitals
* Surgical Care Services
* Effective Organization
* Sustainable Governance
* Interdisciplinary in-patient and outpatient care
This accreditation decision represents a high level of confidence awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the Canadian standards.
An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of high quality, measurable, and accountable.
In its comprehensive accreditation report, Canada Accreditation specifically highlighted numerous strengths at the hospital, including: an interdisciplinary medical team of dedicated professionals with long outstanding service committed to quality improvement; the beautiful and clean facility: the array of educational resources; its strong leadership, and patients’ high rating of care, accessibility and responses to their needs.
Achieving this high level of Canadian accreditation clearly demonstrates Tapion hospital’s expertise and leadership in acute care, while we strive to provide our patients with advanced technology, paired with a very skilled and caring staff, to ensure that patients can make the fullest possible recoveries.
Founded in 1996, Tapion hospital is the island’s only and first private hospital. It provides acute patient care, as well as other outpatient medical services. Affiliated with Baptist Health Systems of South Florida, and recently awarded a Cardiovascular Center of Excellence by the Consortium for Southeastern Hypertensive Control, is owned by private Shareholders and operated by a group of Consultants who are also Shareholders.
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Under the experienced management of Mrs. Hermina Danzie Vitalis, Carib Travel continues to make progress, this was evident by their recent project “A Wedding Show” at the Blue Coral Mall, partnering with Special Occasions’ of Barbados along with Braggs Beauty Supplies, Jada’s Exclusive, Frans Bridal Boutique, L and W Designs, Sizelle Styles and Exotica Flavors’ to host the first ever wedding show in the Castries City .
According to the mall’s manager Jacintha Annius Lee, the first time event was a success, because of the inputs of Carib Travel and special occasions of Barbados. Lee added that management has already taken a decision to make it an annual event, all in an effort to generate economic activities at the mall.
Managing Director of Carib Travel Hermina Danzie Vitalis in her remarks said, “whiles we are a travel agency, we can now provide all the travel and honeymoon aspects of a wedding to any part of the world”.
For its part, Special Occasion of Barbados Manager Marian Fadee, said that “They were delighted to provide their expertise for the show, as they have been in the business for a number of years and they already have ideas for next year’s show.
Speaking to spectators at the mall, they expressed delight at seeing what could be produced on the island especially the swim suits.
By Marius Modeste
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The Bank of Nova Scotia holds another Mortgage Blitz day this Saturday, August 28th. at its William Peter Boulevard branch in Castries.
It will be a follow up to another such activity held at the branch on June 24 to engage all customers in discussions on a walk-in basis about their financial needs.
Once again this Saturday, staff members including branch and personal banking managers, relationship officers, personal banking officers, service representatives and tellers will be on hand to answer customers’ queries about mortgages.
No cash transactions will be conducted during the activity which will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The focus will be on, but not limited to Scotiabank’s Switch Mortgage Campaign which ran to July 31, 2010 and offered a payment of $65 to any customer whom the Bank interviewed and was unable to reduce their current monthly payments by at least $65 if their mortgage was transferred to Scotiabank, providing certain conditions were met.
This mortgage transfer included debt consolidation and borrowing against the equity in the home to finance other personal consumer needs such as financing a vehicle, children’s education, a long sought vacation or extending and improving the home. More importantly, the campaign comes with an interest rate reduction and payment of legal fees tiered with five options so customers chose what suits them best.
Scotiabank says that only the $65 component of this attractive offer expired July 31st 2010. The tiered interest rate reduction and payment of legal fees options are still available now and beyond and all are welcome to take advantage of this opportunity.
Scotiabank has a long history in the Caribbean of over 100 years in assisting customers succeed with identifying and prioritizing their financial goals and providing solutions to achieving their those goals more quickly. Our bank has a solid reputation globally and has attained an important and significant achievement, that of being rated by international regulators and watchdogs to be amongst the top 10 most secure financial institutions internationally to do business with and not wobbled by the much talked about economic downturn and recession of early 2009 which is still very much a fact of life today.
Says Carol J. Henry, Scotiabank’s Manager, Personal Banking, of the June 24 Mortgage Blitz Day: “We enjoyed significant success in providing a number of clients with unique and satisfactory solutions to their needs.”
Saturday’s repeat will offer another opportunity to all customers, existing and new, to come in and discuss their financial needs including borrowing, savings and investment needs.
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Northern United All Sports Club, NUAS, this weekend became the first community football club to play competitively under the newly-installed flood-lights at the Gros-Islet Playing Field. The Club is this year celebrating its 25th anniversary and has held several activities to mark the occasion.
On Friday August 27th, NUAS pitted its skills against a St. Lucian President’s XI, while in an earlier fixture reigning National District and Blackheart Champions Micoud played against Gri-Gri from Martinique. Football action continues on Sunday 28th August with games down for 3, 6 and 8 p. m. Sunday’s action will also feature the President’s XI which replaces T&T giants W Connection who are unable to travel for the tournament.
In its continued quest to develop the youth talent in Gros-Islet the Club will continue the activities throughout the weekend with a youth clinic to be conducted on Saturday August 28th, and again on Monday August 30th, 2010 for youths aged 5 to 16. Northern United All Stars is urging all football lovers to turn out in large numbers to support its 25th Anniversary programme of activities.
Northern United boasts an illustrious history and is perhaps the most successful football club in the north of the island.
The club was formed in 1985 by a group of the winning 1983 Cable and Wireless Gros Islet under 18 footballers who felt that it would best serve the community if they stayed together. With the assistance and mentorship of the late football legend, Patrick “Pattaco” Phillip, the club was born and has maintained a high level of discipline and skill which has seen the club winning on at least twenty occasions, the Gros- Islet League Trophy.
The club has worked tirelessly to improve the standard of football in the Gros-Islet community and at the National level. The club, since its accession to the Premiere League, has consistently been ranked in the top four teams on the island.
In its twenty five years of existence the club has produced numerous players who have worn the National colors’ including the present coach Francis “Baba” Lastic and Elijah Joseph both of whom have captained the National Team.
Northern United’s President Derek George says “The club seeks to give its players an opportunity to further their skills and make a living out of it by creating opportunities for the players to try out at clubs in Germany, England and Trinidad. The club’s vision is to be the best in St. Lucia and the Caribbean. To this end the club has partnered with the leading supermarket in St. Lucia, Super J, which provides the club with the needed equipment to help sharpen the skills of the players. The club has served Gros Islet and St Lucia well throughout its twenty five years of existence and will continue to do so because we are investing in the youth and presently N.U.A.S is the only club in Gros Islet which has consistently fielded a youth team at the district level. This move has helped us sustain the high level of play and discipline with which we have been associated over the years”.
The Club is currently affiliated to the Gros-Islet Football League, GIFL, and is an associate member of the St. Lucia Football Association (SLFA).
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Project Education is a non-profit educational program dedicated to giving younger St. Lucian students of low-income families a head-start on the school year by providing them with school bags filled with supplies. Project Education embodies the critical need for us all to support the education of our youth.
Project education recognizes that there are many children in St Lucia who start their school year without the necessary school supplies. Sadly, their families struggle to finance the costs of such essential tools for school, and by not succeeding in school, these children face innumerable challenges later in life.
As a fellow St Lucian, these underprivileged children and their futures are of great concern to me. On May 4th 2010, I officially launched Project Education, which opens the door to St Lucians and well-wishers in the Diaspora by providing them a unique opportunity to give back and change the lives of our children.
I thereby invite you to join us at our first Project Education presentation ceremony to be held on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 from 10:30 a.m., at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort in Rodney Bay. At this event, we will present nearly 200 school bags filled with school supplies to the National Community Foundation (NCF) for immediate distribution to less fortunate children on the island.
Your presence at this landmark event will not only show the St. Lucian community the importance of assisting in our children’s education, but will also encourage other St. Lucians to recognize the crucial role that the education of our youth plays in St. Lucia.
Jeremiah Hyacinth
Founder, Project Education
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The Government of Saint Lucia together with the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) and the Folk Research Centre (FRC) calls on all Saint Lucians to express their appreciation and love for Saint Lucia’s Queen of Culture, the late Dame Marie Selipha “Sesenne” Descartes on Saturday, August 28th, 2010.
Saint Lucians are encouraged to come out in large numbers so that we can provide Sesenne with a grand send-off that is be-fitting of her status as Saint Lucia’s Queen of Culture.
The public is asked to note the following arrangements for Sesenne’s funeral:
- The body of Sesenne will be exposed for viewing at the St. Lucy’s Catholic Church in the village of Micoud from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
- A Tribute Forum will begin from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the St. Lucy’s Catholic Church in the village of Micoud.
- The formal funeral service will begin from 3:00 pm to approximately 5:00 pm.
- The cortege will leave the St. Lucy’s Church for Mon Repos following the funeral service.
- The cortege will come to a halt at the East Coast Highway and Patience junction after which the Casket bearing the body of Sesenne will be carried by hand to the place of internment.
- The body of Sesenne Descartes will be laid to rest on the grounds of her home at Patience during a special burial ceremony.
All Saint Lucians (those attending the funeral and otherwise) are therefore encouraged to symbolize the life and work of Sesenne by wearing culturally oriented attire or national wear during the day. We encourage all to wear their Madrass Clothing, Wob Dwiyet or National Wear. Let us come together as Saint Lucians to celebrate Sesenne our Queen of Culture in a special way. Long Live Sesenne.
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The Anse La Raye/Canaries Constituency Group of the St. Lucia Labour Party stages its Annual Constituency Conference this coming Sunday, 29th August 2010, at the Anse La Raye Primary School, from 3.00 pm.
The theme of the conference is: “Bringing Honesty and Integrity Into Representation.”
The Guest Speaker will be Talk Show Host and Insurance Executive, Claudius Francis and the Conference will also be addressed by Labour’s top brass, including Parliamentarians, Selected Candidates and Chairpersons of other Constituency Groups.
The Party’s endorsed candidate for the constituency in the next general elections, Dr. Desmond Long, better known as “The Mighty Pep”, will articulate his vision for the constituency, if elected.
Keith Mondesir’s representation as MP for Anse La Raye and Canaries and his performance
as a government minister will come under much scrutiny. The Tuxedo Villas scandal and the state’s loss of important revenue as a result of Cabinet’s complicity, as declared by the courts, are also to be discussed.
Most important, the conference will assess the situation facing constituents ahead of the elections and come up with strategies to ensure a victory for the Labouc candidate in the next elections, whenever it’s called.
Political Leader Dr. Kenny D. Anthony is also expected to address the conference and give the charge to party members and supporters to get their campaign for change going in the constituency.
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The Bank of Nova Scotia holds another Mortgage Blitz day this Saturday, August 28th. at its William Peter Boulevard branch in Castries.
It will be a follow up to another such activity held at the branch on June 24 to engage all customers in discussions on a walk-in basis about their financial needs.
Once again this Saturday, staff members including branch and personal banking managers, relationship officers, personal banking officers, service representatives and tellers will be on hand to answer customers’ queries about mortgages.
No cash transactions will be conducted during the activity which will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The focus will be on, but not limited to Scotiabank’s Switch Mortgage Campaign which ran to July 31, 2010 and offered a payment of $65 to any customer whom the Bank interviewed and was unable to reduce their current monthly payments by at least $65 if their mortgage was transferred to Scotiabank, providing certain conditions were met.
This mortgage transfer included debt consolidation and borrowing against the equity in the home to finance other personal consumer needs such as financing a vehicle, children’s education, a long sought vacation or extending and improving the home. More importantly, the campaign comes with an interest rate reduction and payment of legal fees tiered with five options so customers chose what suits them best.
Scotiabank says that only the $65 component of this attractive offer expired July 31st 2010. The tiered interest rate reduction and payment of legal fees options are still available now and beyond and all are welcome to take advantage of this opportunity.
Scotiabank has a long history in the Caribbean of over 100 years in assisting customers succeed with identifying and prioritizing their financial goals and providing solutions to achieving their those goals more quickly. Our bank has a solid reputation globally and has attained an important and significant achievement, that of being rated by international regulators and watchdogs to be amongst the top 10 most secure financial institutions internationally to do business with and not wobbled by the much talked about economic downturn and recession of early 2009 which is still very much a fact of life today.
Says Carol J. Henry, Scotiabank’s Manager, Personal Banking, of the June 24 Mortgage Blitz Day: “We enjoyed significant success in providing a number of clients with unique and satisfactory solutions to their needs.”
Saturday’s repeat will offer another opportunity to all customers, existing and new, to come in and discuss their financial needs including borrowing, savings and investment needs.
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The St. Lucia Labour Party Youth Organization (SLPYO) calls on the relevant authorities to swiftly put to rest the issue surrounding the young lady and the Police. For a while now, it has been alleged that the young female in question was raped and beaten by four Police officers. Allegations of such horrendous ordeal should not continue to fester, as it not only adds to the hurt of the young female, but also continues to tarnish the reputation of the Police Force. As the organisation which deeply cares for the development and well-being of young persons, we are demanding that the correct measures be followed in order to get to the bottom of the situation, with a view at lessening the chances of such situation taking place in the future. The SLPYO will be closely monitoring the steps taken by the authorities to bring a swift and just conclusion to the matter and will assess the outcome of the said situation.
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The Wave alongside Taxi, M & C Drug Store, Courts St. Lucia, Ferrands Ice Cream, Dominos Pizza, Sagicor General and The Star Publishing embarked on a four-week ‘Back To School’ Promotion, geared towards assisting one Parent in the finances of Text Books, School Uniforms, School Shoes, School Bag, Registration Fees, Laptop and Accessories for his/her son or daughter.
Listeners were given the opportunity to qualify by answering correctly the Math or General Knowledge question poised daily on The Wave, or through the clipping in The Star Newspaper.
On Wednesday September 1st 2010, The Wave alongside Sponsors: Taxi, M & C Drug Store, Courts St. Lucia Ltd, Ferrands Ice Cream, Dominos Pizza, Sagicor General and The Star Publishing, will be presenting the ‘Back To School’ Winner with a Scholarship valued at $5000.00.
This initiative is based on providing support for education and development for the youth of St. Lucia. Furthermore, The Wave acknowledges that education is the key; and will continue its dedication in providing assistance to the youth as they are the future of St. Lucia.
The Prize Giving Ceremony will be held on Wednesday September 1st 2010 at the Bay Gardens Lantana Conference Room.
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The EC Global Insurance/Mabouya Valley Under 20 Football Tournament had a successful start on Sunday, August 22nd at the La Ressource Playing Field. The official ceremony and march pass comprising 8 teams was attended by EC Global representatives, Mabouya Valley Youth and Sports Council members as well as scores of spectators. EC Global, the insurance arm of the East Caribbean Financial Holding Co. Ltd. (ECFH), is sponsoring the competition to the tune of $6000.00.
This is the first time that EC Global Insurance is supporting a tournament of this kind and in her remarks at the opening ceremony, Agencies & Operations Manager, Anne Marie Herman, emphasized the company’s commitment to youth development. She highlighted EC Global’s annual sponsorship of the schools chess tournament and said that this football competition was another step towards honouring that commitment. Mabouya Valley Youth and Sports Council President, Albert Shoulette, praised EC Global’s contribution to the development of the youth in Dennery and hoped that it will be continued.
The opening match of the tournament was won by Young Generations when Preston Ernest scored the sole goal for the match against Survivals. The tournament continues this weekend and will last over the next few weeks.
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